Murmuring
Some people seem to see no harm at all in speaking
critically to others about church leaders. By doing so it is arguable that they
are either feeding their own ego (I am wiser, more intelligent) or they are perhaps
trying to gather support for their own position in opposition to a leader’s
policy or actions.
This may or may not undermine leaders but more
importantly, it is not pleasing to the Lord. It is called murmuring and will
cause the Spirit to withdraw from us. It had dire consequences for the children
of Israel and has also caused many to lose their testimonies in this
dispensation.
But what are we to do we do if we strongly feel that
a leader is fundamentally in error? The scriptures clearly tell us how we
should handle this situation.
“And if thy brother or sister offend thee, thou
shalt take him or her between him or her and thee alone; and if he or she
confess thou shalt be reconciled. And if he or she confess not thou shalt
deliver him or her up unto the church, not to the members, but to the elders.
And it shall be done in a meeting, and that not before the world” D&C 42:89
If we ever have any issues about a leader’s
management of things, we should approach them privately and tell them so. If the
leader then continues in that course of action, they will or should be the very
first to realize that by so doing they are personally accepting all of the
eternal consequences of their decisions and actions.
Although it is right and correct that we should make
our concerns known to leaders privately and personally, we must realize that it
is not our place to counsel the leaders the Lord has appointed unless we are
called and sustained to do so. There is a distinct line between making concerns
known and giving counsel.
In extreme cases the scripture directs that we can
and should take matters “up the line”. If necessary we can bring the situation
to the attention of the leader’s priesthood leader. As the scripture says “It
shall be done in a meeting, and that not before the world”. If these
instructions are followed, it follows that it should never really be necessary
to publicly register an opposing vote when a leader is sustained.
Murmuring to other members about the conduct of a
leader is a serious matter. In our conversations with others we should never
allow ourselves to participate in critical comments about our leaders. The
following quotes are helpful.
It is a nonsense of the human heart to aspire to
office or to find fault with the management of things. If God has appointed (a
man) him and chosen him as an instrument to lead, then why not let him lead it
through." Joseph Smith
I know enough to let the Kingdom alone, and do my
duty. It carries me, I do not carry the Kingdom. I sail in the old ship Zion,
and it bears me safely above the raging elements; I have my sphere of action
and duties to perform on board of that ship; and to faithfully perform them
should be my constant and unceasing endeavor. Discourses of Brigham Young,
p.453
Evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed is in a class
by itself. It is one thing to depreciate a person who exercises corporate power
or even government power. It is (entirely) another thing to criticize or
depreciate a person for the performance of an office to which he or she has
been called of God. It does not matter (at all whether) the criticism is
true.(or not)" Dallin H Oakes